Author(s): Nwagu, K. C¹, Osayande, A.D², Okujgu D. C³



Abstract:

The petrochemical industry is a strategic center of the South Africa economy, but the externalities of the activity are often observed in the form of critical environmental harm. This paper is a physicochemical evaluation and statistical source apportionment of effluents released into the Ekerekana River, which is a vital hydrology in Ekerekana Local Government of Rivers state by the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited (IEPL). Four georeferenced sampled stations were used to gather water in the dry season (November), and were based on the following: the Outfall Basin (Point of Discharge), 100m Downstream, 200m Downstream and Control Station 100m Upstream. The paper has evaluated 16 parameters, such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids, TSS, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, TPH and heavy metals (Lead and Iron) and was conducted using APHA and ASTM standard media protocols.

Findings indicate that there is a serious pollution incident at the mixing zone. The effluent discharge was also highly salty (EC: 10,400 -1 cm; TDS: 7,280 gr/l), organic load (BOD: 80 mg/l) and acidic (pH 5.28). There was a total of 17 mg/l of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) at the discharge point which is 70 times higher than the 10 mg/l of NESREA. The analysis of heavy metals showed that the Level of Lead (Pb) in the outfall was 0.052 mg/l which exceeds the WHO recommended concentration of 0.01mg/l that is very dangerous because it is a neurotoxicant. The Pearson Correlation showed that EC, TDS, Sulphate and Iron were well correlated (r > 0.90) to ascertain that the origin of these contaminant was due to one point-source. This research is found to conclude that the Ekerekana River is at present functioning as a sink of waste instead of being a feasible aquatic environment within the discharge area. Although dilution reduces certain those parameters down the line, the continued burden of the recalcitrant pollutants demand the urgent upgrading of the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and strict enforcement of the regulations.

Keywords:

Petrochemical Effluents, Water Quality Index, Ekerekana River, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Pearson Correlation.

DOI: Available on auithor(s) request

Download Full Article from below:

Physicochemical Characterization and Statistical Source Apportionment of Effluents of the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Industry and their effects on the water quality of Ekerekana River in Nigeria

Pages:36-48